June 29, 2016

"But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you."

Even your dust should be left behind. I can't imagine doing that - but it does seem to be the ideal way to express contempt for the hard-hearted fools that would welcome us.

The action may seem less harsh if we recognize that the disciples have been sent into towns to heal the sick, bring peace and announce the coming of the Kingdom of God. What are they to do if the townspeople would rather remain sick than to accept healing? They should simply leave. Recall that in last Sunday's gospel (Luke 9:51-56) James and John wanted to call down lightening on a town that wouldn't listen. The sad part of it is that those who would rather remain sick will find that "it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."

The lesson to me is detachment. The question for us is to identify the dust. Once we know what dust represents for us, we can begin to detach. For James and John, the dust was resentment at a town that would not welcome them and listen to their message. For each of us it may be something else that is preventing us from carrying the message. For some it may be disappointment at not being loved in exactly the way we expected. For others, it might be that the town failed to recognize our brilliance and eloquence. Whatever it is, we need to shake it off. If not, what started as dust on our feet will soon become baggage on our backs.

P.S. Let's not forget that Isaiah 66 gives us a vivid image of God as nurturing mother.

June 23, 2016

On the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 26, 2016) the readings for Mass include the dramatic story of how James and John want to destroy a Samaritan town. The town had refused to admit Jesus and the disciples because they were on their way to Jerusalem. The Samaritans worshiped the Lord in their own territory and did not recognize Jerusalem. John and James wanted to:

“……call down fire from heaven to consume them…”

as Elijah did in 2 Kings 1:10. I can imagine that this would have been satisfying. I can see them looking forward to wrecking vengeance on the hated Samaritans.

I would have chosen a different first reading for this Sunday. We will hear the story from 1 Kings 19:16-21 in which Elisha turns his back on his former life to follow the Lord. This is one of the messages of Sunday’s gospel (Luke 9:51-62). However, since I just read the book of Jonah, I would have chosen it because his attitude was the same as that of James and John. Jonah ran away rather than preach to the city of Nineveh. When he did preach, the city repented. Jonah was angry. He wanted God to destroy the city just as James and John wanted the Samaritan town destroyed.

What happened when John and James made this request?

“Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.”

Nineveh was the capitol of Babylon - now Iraq. Today’s popular sentiment is close to that of Jonah’s - these people are evil, not to be trusted. In the words of one of our political leaders (Ted Cruz) we should call down fire, i.e. bomb them until the sand glows. Maybe the Lord has other ideas.

On a more personal level, we often meet people who do not seem to hear or understand our attempts to live and witness as Christians. Rather than get upset, we should just go to another town i.e. leave the situation. As has been said, they have their own higher power - and it is not us.

June 16, 2016

The readings for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 19, 2016) are challenging. In Luke 9:23-24 we hear: “Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily* and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

When interpret this literally we rebel. It doesn’t make sense. By interpreting the word “life” in metaphorical terms we can explain the text. This may still make us want to rebel.

In his book The Human Condition: Contemplation and Transformation Father Thomas Keating describes the process by which normal childhood coping strategies gradually become “programs for happiness.” While these programs are healthy in themselves they become dangerous when we are overly attached to them. These attachments come from one of three basic centers of energy or needs for

• Safety and Security • Esteem and Affection • Power and Control • All of these are good things. They become bad things when they get identified with particular programs (having power, money, affection) they become disordered attachments – to the point where they are life-threatening. The television series Hoarders exploits our fascination with the sordid aspects of disordered attachments.

These attachments can take many forms. The New York Times just ran a front page story Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price. Internet devices, the Times notes, can threaten the stability of families. Psychologist Gerald May puts it in modern terms in his book Addiction and Grace in which he provides a list of the many forms that modern attachments can take.

When the attachments become so strong that we see them as life itself, we will need to seek help. We may need to be willing to lose what we see as our life (the attachment) in order to save it. How do we become willing? If the attachment is gripping us tightly we will need outside help. Where do we get this help? We find an answer it the Psalm for Sunday (63:8-9)

You indeed are my savior,and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.My soul clings fast to you;your right hand upholds me.

P.S. I can understand why they did it, but it seems that the compliers of the lectionary erred when they stopped at Luke 9:24. Luke 9:25 adds:“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”

Note: this posting is a revision from the posting for the 12th Sunday in 2010

June 08, 2016

The scripture readings for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 12th) pose a question: Is it better to be someone who has done wrong and admitted it or someone quick to point out why others are very wrong? In the first reading (2 Sm 12-:7-10,13) the prophet Nathan confronts David because he had ordered Bathsheba's husband killed. David admits his wrongdoing. In the gospel reading (Lk 7:36-8:3) Jesus visits the home of Simon, who berates Jesus for allowing a woman of ill-repute to bathe his feet. (This was a courtesy often given to guests who had walked long distances through the desert.) Jesus responds with a question:

“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;

one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.

Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.

Which of them will love him more?”

The upright and respectable Simon did not even extend the common courtesy of washing Jesus' feet. The woman, not only washed his feet, adding her tears but anointed them and kissed them. To modern eyes this seems extravagant, but this woman had been given much and had much reason to be grateful. She knew she had done wrong. The gospel does not tell us whether or not the self-righteous Simon got the point.

Even if Simon did not get the point, we should. It is all too easy to be like Simon and look down on people who are in ill-repute as a result of their own actions. "If only he would do such and such," we think, "he would not have these problems." This may be true, but just like Simon we have placed ourselves in a position of judging other. David and the woman of ill-repute have taken their own inventory and acknowledged their wrongs. We should be willing, if not eager, to do the same.

June 02, 2016

We return to Ordinary time - that time of the liturgical year when the lectionary readings go through the public ministry of Christ according to one of the gospels. From this Sunday (June 5th) through November 2tth the third (i.e. the Gospel) reading will be from Luke. The first (Old Testament) reading and psalm will reflect a theme from the Gospel for the day. The second reading will be drawn from one of the epistles, starting with Galatians.

On the tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 5th) we will hear a widow pleading for her son. In the first reading (1 Kings 17:17-24) Elijah heals the critically son. In the gospel (Luke 7:11-17) Jesus commands the young man to arise from his coffin.

We can imagine ourselves as part of the scene and broaden our perspective beyond the danger of life threatening illness. We can do this by reflecting on Psalm 30:2a

"I will praise you, Lord, for you healed me."

We all know people who need healing from something - compulsions, resentments, fears, chronic conditions or disabilities, or simple stress. We can interned for them, as did the widowed mothers in both stories. Most of us could use some healing ourselves.

As you hear the stories about Elijah and Jesus, imagine that you are there. Pretend that the sick person is someone you know - or as yourself. Take the opportunity to pray for healing.